Folding door



Jan. 3.,? 1933. l 1...:IB'AcKss A --1893263 FOLDING DOOR A ttorney Jan. '3, 1933. L, J, BACKES 1,893,263

FOLDING DOOR Filed May 24. 1929 2 sheets-sheet '2 Inventor Zac/W7 o7- @aC/fea By i Attorney Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES LUDWIG J. BACKES, OF LYONS, ILLINOTG EoLDnTq Doon.

Application led May 24,

This invention relates to an improved folding door which is especially but not necessarily adapted for use at garage entrances.

In carrying the invention into eifect I have developed a simplified structural organization of parts which coact in forming a compact and convenient structure which is practicable and economical, and is otherwise well adapted to fulfill the requirements of a structure of this class in a satisfactory manner.

In the drawings: p Figure 1 is an elevational View showing the improved tdoor constructed ein accordance with the invention, the door being closed.

Figure 2 is a view in section and elevation showing the door in the partially folded open position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken substantially 'on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section showing certain of the details.

In the drawings, in Figure 1 the reference character 5 designates generally the doo-r frame which comprises vertical channel irons 6 joined together by a horizontal top angle iron 7. The side ianges of the angle irons 6 are formed with retaining lips 8 as indicated in Figure 3.v These vertical irons constitute tracks or guides. Supported at the upper corners ofthe frame are pulleys 9 which serve a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The door proper is made up of a plurality of horizontal sections 10, 11, 12 and 13, re- 35 spectively. Each section comprises a frame y 14.-. `The second section 11 is formed with glass panels 15, and the remaining sections with metallic or wood panels 16. The up'- per section 10 is hinged as at 17 to the channel bar 7 of the door frame so as to swing :outwardly when the door is opened. The remaining sections are suspended from this and hingedly connected together whereby to permit them to 'collapse or fold into compact 45 relationship suggested in Figure 2, the sections moving upwardly in the same vertical plane and approaching the same horizontal lane. l

p It will be observed that the lowermost sect tion 13 opens inwardly at its lower edge.

1929. Serial No. 365,774.

This arrangement is. provided instead of opening outwardly so that the doors opening will not be in any way impeded even when snow drifts have formed against the outside of the door. l

To provide for easy and satisfactory operation of the ldoor sections, each section is provided at its opposite ends as seen in Figure 4 with a bracket 19 having a stub shaft 20 carrying an anti-friction and guiding 60 roller 21. These rollers are confined between the flanges of the guide tracks 6, as seen in Figure 2. Attached to the lower section 13 are anchoring brackets 22 with which hoisting chains or the like 23 are con- 65 nected.v These chains pass upwardly over the pulleys 9 and are anchored to the building as seen in Figure 1. The reference characters 24 designate slidable counter balance weights, which also function as hand grips. The reference characters 25 designate assist springs which cooperate with the ounter balanced weights in folding the oor.

Suitable locking means for the door is provided and this preferably com-prises a pivotally mounted disc 26. carried by the section 12 near one edge thereof and provided with an operating handle 27. Connected at their inner ends eccentrically `to this disc arey retaining rods 28, whose outer ends engage between the flanges of the guide rails 6. The reference character 29 designates an ear on the disc 6 which is cooperable with a hasp 30 on the door section. Apertures in the parts 29 and 30 are adapted to be registered so as to receive therethrough the shackle of a padlock for locking the door.

In operating the door, the locking means having been operated to releasing position, the weights 20 may be grasped and pulled downwardly, so as to cause the door sections to fold upwardly with the anti-friction rollers moving upwardly in the guide tracks.

It will be observed that my improved folding door requires no head-room, nor does it require space at the sides of the door opening. My door can be installed in any position outwardly or inwardly in the door opening or the like. y

Persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless appreciate the novelty, utility and advantages. Therefore a more lengthy description is regarded unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of details may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A folding door structure, comp-rising, a'

frame for disposition within a door opening or the like having open channel side members, a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected horizontal sections vertically movable in the frame, friction reducing connections centrally projecting from the side edges of each section and slidably confined within the channel side members, the lower edge of the lowermost section being adapted to swing inwardly as the door is opened, and operating means for the door adapted to operate and maintain the door in open and closed positions, said operating Ameans comprising on either side of the structure, a chain secured at its upper end to a stationary support, and secured at its lower end to the lower part of the inside of the lowermost section, a pulley on the door frame, over which said chain is trained, a handle in the form of a counterweight slidably carried on the chain between the stationary support and the pulley, and a contracting spring secured at one end to an upper part ofthe frame and at the other end to the lower part of the inside of an intermediate door section, for assisting in the folding of said intermediate door section and those thereabove when the door has been partially opened so as to partly fold the last mentioned section by drawing downwardly upon the counterweight handle, said door being adapted to becornpletely opened by drawing downwardly upon the counterweight handle.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

LUDWIG J. BACKES. 

